James Stewart Reporting

Well today was the final game of the season at Forthbank but this time it wasn’t Stirling Albion taking centre stage it was the supporters who were the stars today it the Stirling Albion Supporters Club Classic. Last year seen a goal fest as both teams netted 5 times in 90 minutes to take the match to penalties and with last year’s champions Redweb Is Best For Reports And Photos (RIBFRAP) returning to defend their crown it was expected to be another entertaining game for Forthbank faithful as RIBFRAP takes on A Bunch Of Forthbankers (ABOF).

Today’s game wouldn’t have been possible though without the organisation skills of James “MIF” Smith just like last year where MIF managed to raise over £1800 to help Stirling Albion improve its catering facilities. This year the main benefactor of the fans classic is the Stirling Albion Supporters Club.

This year seen a few new faces in the line up for the game so first of all here are the teams.

Referee: Stuart Brown

Assistant Referees: David Brown & Jamie Reid

On an excellent afternoon for football at Forthbank it was ABOF that got proceedings underway in the second fans classic game to be held at Forthbank. ABOF kicked off shooting towards the retail park end of the stadium but it was RIBFRAP that had the first meaningful attempt on goal when George Machray managed to break from his marker and hit a powerful shot directly at the ABOF goal but the shot just went wide of the left hand post.

ABOF managed a quick counter attack and it nearly paid off as Andy Getty passed to Andy Torrence but Torrence could only manage to scoop the ball over the bar. ABOF continued to pressure the RIBFRAP defence with Davie Conway came close with an 18 yard strike that just fizzled over the bar. Robert Young continued the ABOF onslaught with a high shot over the bar of Colin Parry’s goal.

RIBFRAB bosses Stewart McIntyre and Aki Johnston decided they needed to change things around and on came Barry McLean and Andy Japp replacing Matt Morris and Lewis Dalgarno in what would be the first of many substitutions in today’s game to keep the teams ticking over. The change seemed to restore the confidence of RIBFRAP as George Machray was soon back on the offensive as he sent a shot just wide of Stevie Wick’s goal.

The best chance of the game so far fell to RIBFRAP’s Andy Japp as be managed a decent run and at the end of it he forces Stevie Wick to make a save that Myles Hogarth would be proud of. ABOF didn’t let the RIBFRAP attacks worry them to much as Robert Young managed a good run in to the RIBFRAP half but his final effort was poor as he scooped the ball high over the bar. The ABOF bench nearly had something to celebrate when a dipping shot from Davie Conway just dipped behind hitting the net.

ABOF were soon shell shocked as George Machray managed to go around ABOF’s Andy Getty and with Davie Conway hot on Machray’s heals the silver haired striker sent a long range shot the just dipped under Stevie Wick’s bar and went in to give RIBFRAP the lead.

ABOF were soon back on the offensive and Andy Torrence came close to levelling the score line after he was setup by Davie Conway but again Torrence couldn’t convert another excellent chance as his 6 yard effort went wide. More substitutions were to follow as the pace of the game increased with ABOF looking for the equaliser and it nearly came when Andy Torrence set up Alan McAndrew for a dipping shot that was calmly collected by Colin Parry.

ABOF didn’t let up the pressure as Mark Connolly took a chance at beating Parry but his effort didn’t cause problems for the RIBFRAP keeper. On a rare attack for RIBFRAP it was nearly another goal as Stephen Appleton sent in a shot that went across the front of the ABOF goal.

As the half progressed it was looking like ABOF were the better side and they had another excellent chance to level the score line when Sean Kaney was one on one with Colin Parry but as the RIBFRAP defence closed in Kaney could only send his effort wide. RIBFRAP soon increased their lead when Andy Japp got possession on the halfway line and managed to dodge a tackle from McDonalds muncher James “MIF” Smith and brake through the ABOF defensive lines to slot home RIBFRAB’s second. ABOF were soon attacking again after the restart as Mark Connolly managed to force Colin Parry into making a save as his shot went goal ward.

It wasn’t looking like Andy Torrence’s day as his long range effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced out off the line soon to be grabbed by Colin Perry to clear the danger.

RIBFRAP soon had another chance to increase their lead when Andy Japp went on a surging run into the ABOF box but with David Anthony following him he dragged his shot past Stevie Wick’s right hand post. Up the other end ABOF’s Andy Torrence was still threatening the RIBFRAP goal as he sent another shot towards Colin Parry who managed to gather the shot.

As the half drew to a close it was RIBFRAP who had the final bit of action as the silver striker George Machray and Andy Japp linked up with a neat 1 – 2that seen Japp break into the box and fired a shot at goal that was blocked by Stevie Wick and the resulting rebound was nearly netted by Japp but his final effort went scurrying across the face of the goal.

Half Time: A Bunch Of Forthbankers 0 V 2 Redweb Is Best For Reports And Photos.

As the secondhalf got under way ABOF soon had RIBFRAP on the back foot as Andy Torrence picked up from where he left off in the first half when he had an excellent shot on target that was stopped by Colin Parry. ABOF soon had something to celebrate though as Andy Torrence sent in a long cross that was sent goal ward by Robert Young.

ABOF were soon to make use of Binos player Stewart Devine. ABOF were soon level after Davie Conway passed to Andy Torrence who finally managed to convert one of his many chances of the game. RIBFRAP were soon to respond as George Machray broke away from the ABOF defence and send the ball into the back of the net but unluckily for him he was deemed to be offside by Assistant Referee David “Offside” Brown it didn’t end there for Machray as he was booked for kicking the ball into the net by referee Stuart Brown.

Things didn’t get any better for RIBFRAP as Stewart Devine sent in a cross to Robert Young who calmly rose above the RIBFRAP defence to head home ABOF’s third. The forth soon followed for ABOF when Andy Torrence broke through the defensive lines of RIBFRAP and a fully stretched Colin Parry couldn’t stop the excellent shot from Torrence.

RIBFRAP were looking down and out for but Andy Japp managed to pull them back into the game when he left the ABOF picked up a Craig Ritchie pass and calmly hit it into the back of the net. The goal stood despite the claims of offside from ABOF skipper James Smith who was soon booked for pulling Craig Ritchie’s shirt. RIBFRAP continued their fight to get back into the game that they lead at half time and it paid off when Andy Japp went from goal scorer to goal provider when he passed to Barry McLean who equalised for RIBFRAP. Another goal and another yellow card shown as Barry McLean went topless for his celebration.

Somehow with the RIBFRAP comeback convinced Stewart Devine to make an appearance for Redweb’s boys and it paid off as he managed to latch onto a good pass from the RIBFRAP midfield and slot home to take the lead for RIBFRAP. Andy Japp nearly doubled the lead for RIBFRAP when he was set up by a Craig Ritchie pass but Japp couldn’t keep his shot down. Things were starting to look grim for ABOF as they gave a free kick away in a dangerous area the kick was floated into the box and met by Sean Kaney but his effort just went wide of Stevie Wick’s left hand post. ABOF were soon back on level terms though as David Conway managed to get on the end of a throw-in and calmly sent his shot into the back of the net.

ABOF nearly managed to steal the match when skipper James Smith seen his shot deflected out for a corner kick. Davie Conway sent the corner in to Andy Torrence but Torrence couldn’t convert his chance. RIBFRAP’s Richard Marshall nearly gave away the game as he brought down Andy Torrence on the edge of the area but despite Torrences claims for a penalty the referee was having none of it and soon sounded his whistle for full time.

Full Time: Bunch Of Forthbankers 5 V 5 Redweb Is Best For Reports And Photos.

With the teams still level the match was going to be decided on penalties and up first was RIBFRAP’s George Machray. Machray drilled hi shot low ad to the left but ABOF’s keeper Stevie Wick guessed correct and managed to get a hand to the ball and stop it from crossing the line.

ABOF’s first penalty kick was taken by Andy Torrence who easily scored by sending his penalty high into the centre as Colin Perry dived to the right.

Barry McLean stepped up to RIBFRAP’s second penalty, McLean sent his penalty to the right and Stevie Wick Managed to get a hand to it but the power behind McLean’s strike sent the ball into the back of the net.

Robert Young was the next ABOF player up to take a penalty and he sent the ball in to the top right corner and didn’t give Colin Perry a chance to save it.

The third penalty for RIBFRAP was taken by Richard Marshall who sent his along the ground and under Stevie Wick. You would have thought Wick would have saved it as it was directly under his leg but the ball trickled over the line.

Next up was Sean Kaney for ABOF. Kaney sent his penalty down the middle and low but he couldn’t get it past RIBFRAP keeper Colin Parry who easily saved the penalty.

Lewis Dalgarno was up next for RIBFRAP’s fourth penalty. Dalgrano picked the top left hand corner to send his penalty and Stevie Wick couldn’t do much to stop it.

Alan McAndrew stepped up for ABOF’s fourth penalty and managed to send Colin Parry the wrong way as he hit his penalty in to the top left hand corner.

Into the final round of penalties where things are sitting all square it was Andy Japp’s turn to step up to the mark for RIBFRAP. Japp sent his penalty to the right top corner and for a moment it looked like Stevie Wick had managed to save it but Wick couldn’t hold on and the ball hit the back of the net.

Mark Connolly stepped up to take ABOF’s fifth penalty and sent it down the middle as Colin Parry dived to the right.

Sitting all square on the penalties after five attempts each to brake the dead lock it was now sudden death miss now and it is all over.

Craig Ritchie was cool, calm and collected as he hit home RIBFRAP’s sixth penalty. Ritchie sent his penalty low and to the right, Stevie Wick knew it was passed him and didn’t try the save.

David Conway was the next man at the spot for ABOF and Conway managed to send Colin Parry the wrong way as he hit his penalty to the left.

RIBFRAP’s Ginger Assassin, Roger Gardiner stepped up for his shot and sent it low and to the left where even the most experienced keepers wouldn’t get to.

ABOF’s David Anthony was up next and Anthony didn’t manage to challenge Colin Parry as he sent his penalty wide past the left hand post. It looked like the pressure got to Anthony as he gifted the match to Redweb Is Best For Reports And Photos.